Motor vehicle body



Dec. 23, 1941. F. w. KRAMER 2,266,769

MOTOR VEHICLE BODY Filed July 21, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1a. @@u @6M C y Dec. 23, 1941. F. w. KRAMER 2,266,769

MOTOR VEHICLE BODY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2l, 1939 Dec.- 23, 1941. v F. w. KRAMER 2,266,769

MOTOR VEHICLE BODY Filed July 21, 1939 3 sheets-sheet 5 to the main body for the purpose of fresh air to the vehicle, showing the top Patented Dec. 23.14941 MOTOR-'VEHICLE BODY- A Fred William Kramer, New Orleans, La. Application July 21. 1939, Serial No. 285,793

This invention relates to motor vehicle bodies and more particularly to a type which may be employed upon land or water. and itconsists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein describedv and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a body so designed as to-eliminate longitudinal bracing by reason of employment oi ns spaced and shaped to give a rigidness to the body throughout.

It isvalso an object of the struct the body in friction when employed in waterv and lessening air resistance when travelling upon land.

It is .also an object ofthe invention to. provide a body having a' double wall hull, greatly adding to the buoyancy when employed as a boat.

It is a further invention to conobject to provide a novel construction of detachable top which may be employed as a row boat; or when removed, converts the main body into an open air model. or, thetop may be vertically adjusted' with respect admitting interior of the body. It is a still further object of the invention to provide a body in which a forced draft air circulating system may be unitary part of with incoming fresh whereby when desired, the be diverted to cool the engine of the vehicle.

It is also an object oi the invention to provide a novel seat arrangement aording greater room for passengers, as well as permitting installation of accessories which may not be aceommdated in present 'day vehicles. I

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following 'description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of structed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. vFigure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view vehicle. o

Figure 4 is ,a vertical cross section on the' line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a similar Fig.- 3.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the vehicle. Figure 'l is a fragmentary side elevation of the partly removed. v with the top reair, and to provide means of the view on the line B-l of Figure 8 is atop plan view moved.

full streamline effect reducinga vehicle con- "cated at l0, and as may forward end il from which the taper rearwardly to dene 4pulp mixed with Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating the top and its manner oi mounting upon the body.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the front seats of the vehicle.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of a bumper employed on the vehicle.

Figure 12 is a' cross'sectional viewy through one of the mounting studs of the bumper.

Figure 13 is adetail illustrating a control means for steering the frontwheels and rudder of the vehicle.

There is illustrated a vehicle generally indibeseen from Figure 3, comprises an outer 'shell Il which may be readily stamped from a single piece of sheet metal, such as steel, Duralumin, or other material foundv practicabl In fact. it is quite possible to press the body from plastics such as wood a suitable binder, or to form the body from plywoods.

The shell il has a rounded upwardly turned side walls I4 the rear end, the

28' latter being curved upwardly as at I5.

readily built in as a the body operable in conjunctionl circulation of air may 21 operably connected An inner shell i6 complemental to is provided, maintained in spaced relation by means of iins I1 welded or otherwise secured between th'e shells.

A channel I8 extends longitudinally and medially of the body, one end being connected to a front wheel-mounting housing I9 extending transversely and the `other end being connected to' asimilar rear wheel-mounting housing 20, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The channel I8 is preferably welded to the wheel housings |940.

walls I4 and abut the channel erably being welded in place.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a very rigid body structure is provided and by reason of the double wall and connecting fins, a plurality of compartments 22 are formed, aiording buoyancy when the' vehicle is operated upon encloses a steering gear mechaas here shown comprises a shaft with suitable levers assobody.

The body I9 nisrn 26 which the'shell Il 1 .the gear shift lever vehicle, the seats having I, latter having a cable trained therearound, one

end being fixed thereto and the other end passing through suitable pulleys or other guide means to a rudder (not shown) xed at a. suitable point at the rear of the vehicle. The rudder will preferably be of a detachable construction so that it may be readily removed when the vehicle is to be used upon the land. y

The shaft 32 is supported at its forward end by a bearing plate 34, and spaced rearwardly thereof, a gear 35 is fixed thereon. The sleeve shaft 3| has a gear 36 xed thereon arranged in opposed relation to the gear 35. A steering gear 31 is provided, mounted medially of the longitudinal axis of the body of the vehicle universally mounted at its base so that the post may be swung to a position before either of the front seats, permitting alternate driving of the vehicle by the passengers occupying the front seats. The post includes a shaft 38, the upper end of which has connected thereto a steering wheel 39 and the lower end has fixed thereon a gear 40. This gear 40 is selectively engageable with gears 35 and 36 for effecting Steerage of the Wheels 28 or the rudder through the shaft 32 and drum 33.

The housing 20 mounts rear wheel housings 4| respectively, upon the free ends 42 of which there is mounted rear wheels 43 driventhrough a shaft 44 and associated gear 45, the latter being oper- `atively connected to a driven shaft 46 of a transmission 41, the latter being operatively associated with an engine 48 mounted in a compartment in the rear of the body, as will be described hereinafter.

Asmay be seen from Figure 6 of the drawings, the rear wheels 43 are mounted to travel in a line of less tread than the front wheels 28 due to the taper or streamline effect of the body, and this necessitates a housing 20 of lesser length than the housing I9, in order to maintain the streamline eifect, and it should also be noted that by the construction presented, a vehicle having a low center of gravity is provided, insuring safety in travel upon land or water.

The shaft 46 includes a rear extension 49 upon which there is secured a propeller 5|), for propelling the vehicle when in water, and will of course be driven at various speeds provided by the transmission as determined by the positioning of which may be remotely actuated through suitable levers from the front seats 52.

The front seats 52 are adjustable laterally and to this end I- provide trackways 52-a at front and rear extended laterally upon the oor of the heads 52--b complemental to the `trackways VThe engine compartment 53 is defined by a Wall 54 positioned immediately to the rear of the rear seat 55, the Wall extending from the inner shell I6' upwardly and inclined rearwardly for juncture with the wall 56 of the body, and also extends and is secured to the side walls I4. The Wall 56 has a pair of openings closed by hinged doors 51, the latter having louvers for ventilation of the engine 48, as well be described in further detail hereinafter. It will be seen that the. en-

gine is entirely enclosed and the possibility of exhaust gasesgetting into the passenger compartment is entirely eliminated, which is enhanced by the fact that any gases which may be present in the engine compartment will pass rearwardly out through the louvers of the doors.

The engine, transmission, etc. may be mounted in the engine compartment in any suitable manner, andasshown, the engine includes a radiator 5.8 having a filling spout 59 exteriorly of the body. The radiator is positioned in the path of outflowlng air, effecting efficient cooling of the radiator.

A pair of exhaust fans 50 are suitably mounted Within the engine compartment, driven from the engine by means of pulleysand a belt 5|, the fans functioning to draw air from the passenger compartment, as will be explained.

The inner and outer shells I5 and E| are joined at their upper edges in the form of a circumscrlbing face 62 upon which a superstructure frame 63 is mounted, as by welding. The frame 63 includes windows 64 along the sides and rear and a windshield 65. The main body and the superstructure are provided withl openings for doors,

one door 66 being positioned approximately axially of the length of the body, permitting ready passage into the body and particularly to the rear seat 55. 'I'he other door 61 is positioned forwardly of the body and slightly to the rear of the left front drivers seat. This door permits access to the front seat, as well as to the rear seat.

The rear seat 55 is substantially L-shaped, one portion extending transversely of the body and another portion lying longitudinally of the body. Such an arrangement of seat affords greater room and comfort to the rear seat passengers, and to afford still greater comfort, one of the front seats 52 is provided with a combined water receptacle and wash basin, constructed in a manner to be readily concealed when not in use, yet movable to operable position in an easy manner. It should be understood that the seat 55 may embody extra cushlons or spring mattress for the purpose of providing a full sized double bed.

The seat 52 is constructed with a metallic or other backing 68 having side walls 69, between which there is secured a receptacle 1,0 for water. 'I'he receptacle 10 has a tapered lower end 1| merging into a pipe 12. The pipe 12 has a faucet 13, inwardly of whichthe pipe is provided with a hinge joint- 14. A basin 15 is hingedly connected at its lower end, between the side walls 69, and a hinged link 16 connected between the basin and side walls affords support for the basin its operative position. lImmediately to the rear of the hinge of the basin, a. funnel 11 is arranged, adapted to receive water from the basin, when the basin is swung to its closed position between the walls. A conduit 18 exr is constructed along the lines' such. The top 8| is of doublewhich will increase buoyance employed as al boat.

In order. that the top 8| may be readily installed and removed from the superstructure a pluralityoi suitably spaced rods 83 project through the groove 80, the rods 83 being presented into'openings formed in the lower edge of the top 8|. The rods 83 Imay be secured ir. place by means of a nut 94, and setl screw 85. A set or thumb screw 96 threadedly'engaged through the inner wall of the top impinges upon the rod 83 for securement of the top. Obviously, the top 8| may be adjusted vertically above the superstructure and maintained in such position by loosening the screws 86, adjustingl the top as desired and then tightening the screws. Thus, the top 8| may be adjusted so as to admit fresh air and provision is made for closing the space between the top and superstructure, without readjusting the top by reason of flexible sheet '81 stretched across `the space and secured between the thumb screws 8.5-86.

Obviously, a weatherproof joint must be provided between the top 8| and the superstructure, and this is accomplished in the provision of a rubber packing strlp'88 on the lower edge of the top, adapted to seat within the groove 89 of the superstructure.

'An air duct 89 is formed in the superstructure, extending across the front and along the sides of the superstructure, respective side ducts having communication with the exhaust fans 89 by means of ducts 90.

The front portion of the air duct 89 is open to the atmosphere through the provision of louvers 9|, and the inner wall forming the duct 89 is provided with shutters 92 for regulating air which may-pass into the vehicle body.

From the foregoing, with the suction fans 69 in operation, freshair will be drawn through the louvers 9| into the ducts 8'9 and finally discharged from the fans into the engine compartment, the air serving to cool the motor 48, and finally passing from the compartment by reason oi' the louvers 51. The air thus passing through the rear of the body tends to break any vacuous effect ordinarily inherent in ordinary constructions of vehicle bodies.

In addition, the shutters 92 may be opened or closed to regulate the amount of air which may be drawn olifv from the interior of the vehicle body, and an efiicient ventilation of the vehicle eected.

The wheels 28 and 43 are mounted in respective wells 93, and these are of such size that the wheels may be raised and lowered therewithin to accommodate the vehicle either to land orwater.v The structure and driveA are not dealt with in detail herein, since they form no part of the present invention and are fully hown and described in my United StIatesPatent, 2,091,509, issued August 31 1937.

' The vehicle may front and rear, as required, and in Figures 11 and 12, I have illustrated a preferred-form, attention being directed to these figures for an understanding of the construction. The bumper comprises a plurality of headed stud bolts 94, each having an al attaching plate 98 for aecurement to the integr body by' bolts I8. The bumper and depth of the top when it will be apparent that of the wheel mounting Y bar 91 is. preier- 70 embedded in connected to er plant in the rear of the body and operatively rubber or other resilient material, which is firmly fixed to a metallic bar or plate 98. As shown in Figure 12, the plate 98 has its longitudinal edges 99 inwardly turned and the bar 91. The plate 98 has a plurality of sleeves |99, the sleeves being complemental to respective headed bolts 94. The head of the bolt is slidably engaged within the sleeve and the outer end of the sleeve is exteriorly threaded to receive a cap IUI, the latter being aperturedlto receive the bolt 94 slidably therethrough. A helical spring |82 is linterposed between the bottom of the sleeve and the head of the bolt. It will thus be seen that the bumper baris resiliently mounted Jupon the bolts, and due to such mounting, shocks due to collisions will be materially reduced.

ably formed from While -I have shown and described a preferredA this is by way of illustration only, own all such modications fall within the scope of the construction, and I consider as my in structure as fairly appended claims.

\I claim:

1. A vehicle bottom, side and end walls, ns opposed Walls,

body comprising spaced parallel -the body and operatively connected with the drive means.

- y2. A vehicle body comprising 'spaced parallel bottom, side and end wal ns connecting the opposed walls, a channel extended longitudinally and medially of the body, fins connecting the channel and side walls defining a plurality of compartments, a right angular disposed housing respective ends ofthe channel, the housing at the -rear of the body being of less length than the housing at the front of the body, drive means carried by the shorter housing, steerwheels associated with wheels associated with the steering connected with the drive means. I

3. A vehicle comprising spaced parallel bottom. side and end walls, ns connecting the opposed walls forming compartments, a ed longitudinally and medially `oi the body. ns connecting the channel and the side walls, a right ing gear means means in the other housing,traction wheels opg gear means,

eratively associated with the steerfn drive wheels operatively connected with the drive means, said body having wells for reception of the wheels and of a depth to permit retraction of the wheels therewithin, a power plant in the rear of the body and operatively connected with the connecting the the side walls tapering rearwardly, a channel extended longitudinally and medially channel extend-` 

